Greig Leach

On rare occasions a marquee rider like Peter Sagan (Bora Hansgrohe) will exert control over the peloton. Today was an unreasonable hot day. With a large group way down on the general classification up the road, there was no reason for the peloton to ride hard to chase back the break. However, Total Direct Energie put the whole team on the front and drove hard. It may have been punishment for missing the break, but it took Sagan to convince them to desist. It was a good day for the peloton to "rest" and save themselves from the heat. And to save themselves for the three hard days in the Alps starting tomorrow.